Russia reports online attacks on electoral system on second day of parliamentary vote

On Saturday, Russian authorities reported that the online voting system in Moscow had been subjected to a strong cyber‑attack overnight, a development that has drawn the attention of state media and the Central Election Commission. The event comes as the three‑day State Duma vote, held from 18 to 20 September, continues to be framed by Moscow as a barometer of public support for the war in Ukraine. The attacks were said to have been repelled, but no independent confirmation has been published.

According to the Cyprus Mail and corroborated by Yahoo News, the online voting system in Moscow was hit by a “strong attack” overnight. The Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova said the attacks were continuing but had been successfully repelled. The Digital Ministry added that a sabotage attempt had targeted communication lines in the Far East, which was also thwarted and communications restored.

Media additions

The CEC’s data, cited by state media, indicated that nationwide turnout stood at 32.58 % as of 14:00 local time on Saturday (11:00 GMT). The figure is echoed by the Kiprinform report, which also notes the same turnout percentage. A RFE/RL article estimates that roughly 33 % of eligible voters had cast ballots by midday.

The State Duma election is the first nationwide vote since Russia launched its full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The ruling pro‑Putin United Russia party is widely expected to retain its dominance, while most anti‑war candidates have been barred from the ballot. The Supreme Court last month ruled that the liberal Yabloko party, which advocates a ceasefire, had breached electoral rules; Yabloko denied the allegation and still fields candidates in single‑member constituencies, which account for half of the 450 seats in the lower house.

Voting is also being held in Russian‑controlled parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. The result will likely be used by the Kremlin to illustrate popular support for the war and for President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly urged voters to turn out. Putin accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere with the vote, an allegation that Kyiv has not responded to and that the Ukrainian government has called “farcical.”

In addition to the cyber incidents, the election has sparked a diplomatic row with Moldova over plans to open polling stations for Russian nationals in the breakaway Transnistria region. Moscow says 220,000 residents of Transnistria hold Russian passports and are entitled to vote in 15 new polling stations. Moldova’s pro‑Western government has rejected the proposal, stating that Russians may vote only in a single polling station at the Russian embassy in Chisinau. The dispute has drawn the attention of the Russian Foreign Ministry, which urged Moldova to drop its objections and “halt actions that run against democracy, international law and common sense.”

Experts note that the attacks on the online voting system are unverified by independent observers. The RFE/RL piece explicitly states that there is no independent confirmation of the attacks on 19 September. The Digital Ministry’s report on the Far East sabotage attempt likewise contains no details on the nature of the incident. The CEC’s statements about the attacks being repelled come from state media, and no external verification has yet been reported.

The election will conclude on Sunday evening, with official results expected no earlier than 21 September. The Kremlin is likely to highlight the outcome as evidence of widespread public support for its policies, particularly the war in Ukraine. The international community, meanwhile, continues to monitor the election’s integrity and the ongoing cyber threats that may affect the democratic process.

Timeline of Key Events

• 18 September – Voting begins across 11 time zones, including occupied Ukrainian regions.
• 19 September – Russian authorities report strong cyber‑attacks on Moscow’s online voting system; Digital Ministry reports sabotage attempt on Far East communication lines.
• 19 September – CEC Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova states attacks are ongoing but repelled; 32.58 % turnout reported.
• 19 September – Diplomatic dispute escalates between Russia and Moldova over Transnistria polling stations.
• 20 September – Final day of voting; results to be announced by 21 September.

For further coverage of the election and its implications for Russia’s domestic politics and the Ukraine conflict, see World coverage and Russia begins three days of parliamentary voting amid war in Ukraine.